Who Is Rafael Marquez? Mexican with Alleged Sinaloa Drug Cartel Ties Headed for Fifth World Cup

Rafael Marquez could become only the third man to play at five soccer World Cups, having been named in Mexico’s preliminary squad for next month’s tournament.

The 39-year-old’s inclusion in the 28-man list is a significant development, given last August Marquez was named in a U.S. Treasury investigation into drug trafficking.

Mexico's defender Rafael Marquez during the 2017 Confederations Cup semi-final match between Germany and Mexico at the Fisht Stadium in Sochi on June 29, 2017. Franck Fife/AFP/Getty Images

Over 20 people, including Marquez and Grammy-nominated musician Julion Alvarez, were named after a multi-year investigation into a drug-trafficking business allegedly run by Raul Flores Hernandez, who was arrested in July 2017.

Teams have to submit their final, 23-man squads by 4 June, 10 days before the start of the tournament.

Mexico begin their campaign against defending world champions Germany on June 17 in Moscow, before taking on South Korea on June 23 in Rostov and Sweden in the final game of Group F in Yekaterinburg four days later.

After failing to qualify for the 1990 World Cup, El Tri has reached the round of 16 in each of the last six editions.